Charles byrne



1N0 Model.)

0. BYRNE. VELOOIPBDE.

INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

.w E s S E .N W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIIARLES BYRNE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VELOGIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,733, dated March 24, 1896. A lication filed December 24, 1894. Serial lilov 532,756. (No model.) Patented in England August 3, 1894,1lo. 14,900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BYRNE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at London, in the county of Middlesex, Eng land, have invented a new and useful Improvemcnt in Velocipedes, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, N0. 14, 900,

bearing date of August 3, 18%,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in chain-retarding devices for chaindriven velocipedes; and it consists of a long brush so mounted immediately above the lower part of the chain, on one of the members of the frame, that its position can be varied with respect to the said fork or frame to make it line with the chain. I attain this end in the manner shown by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a View in side elevation showing, by way of illustration only, the application of my invention to the driving-chain of a rear-driving bicycle. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of a modification in the construction of the brush and in the method of mounting it. Fig. 3 is a View showing one construction of the fixing-bolts, and Fig. 4 is a VlQW showing a modification thereof.

lhroughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.

The brush A consists of a number of suitable bristles mounted on a rigid back a, the forward part of which is preferably curved or sloped, as shown. This brush is fixed to the member X of the fork or frame carrying the driving wheel or wheels adjacent to the driving-chain by means of suitable clips B B and studs 0 G, which are cranked, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3, so that the position of the brush may be adjusted transversely with respect to the memberX of the fork or frame to get the brush exactly under the driving-chain Z, which is represented by dotted lines in the accompanying drawings. The studs O O are preferably used also as two of the bolts to hold the parts of the clips B B together, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4. in the accompanying drawings; but they may be independent thereof, if desired. Instead of using cranked studs O O, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3, the said studs may have set-off arms or plates, such as c, adapted to be attached to the back aof the brush by independent bolts or screws 0', as shown by Figs. 2 and 4.

The bristles of the brush A maybe set either at right angles to the back a of the brush, as shownby Fig. 1, or at an angle sloping forward, as shown by Fig. 2, to increase their resistance against the backward drag of the chain.

It will be seen that when the machine is being propelled forward and the under side of the driving-chain is slack it runs clear of the brush A, as shown by fine dotted lines; but when the rider back-pedals to retard the speed of the machine and the under side of the driving-chain becomes taut it comes into contact with the brush A, as shown by dotand-dash lines.

The brush can be adjusted to compensate for the Wear of its bristles by means of the studs 0 C.

It will be seen that the brush acts also to clean the inner face of the chain, and, if desired, a small brush, such as D, maybe mounted, as shown by Fig. 2, to bear against the outer face of the chain when the machine is being driven forward and thus clean both faces of the chain.

I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, but that I hold myself at libertyto make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination in a brake for checking the speed of velocipedes through the driving-chain, of a brush having a rigid back and of cranked or set-off studs and clips or clamps for the purpose of adjusting the position of the brush with respect to the driving-chain, as set forth.

2. In a brush-brake adapted to act on the driving-chain of a velocipede, the combination of the long rigid brush A, of the clips B, of the cranked or set-off studs 0, and of the brush D adapted to engage with the other side of the chain, as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES BYRNE.

Witnesses Bonner G. PHILLIPS, W. H. JAMES. 

